Each forms of African Grey parrots could make glorious pets. With good socialization, an African Gray parrot from Congo or Timneh might be an affectionate pet for many years.
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN TIMNEH AND CONGO PARROTS – HOW TO DISTINGUISH THEM
Geography
The Congo and Timneh gray parrots each come from Africa however come from completely different elements of the continent. Congo African Gray has advanced in Central Africa, from Côte d’Ivoire to west Kenya, and to Tanzania and Angola to the south.
The geographical space of Timneh is far smaller, concentrated together with the coastal areas of West Africa, particularly in Guinea, Ghana, and Côte d’Ivoire.
Dimension and shade
Though many African gray parrots appear virtually equivalent, there are variations between the Congo and Timneh parrots. Congo African Gray parrots are bigger than Timneh.
Congos can measure as much as 30 centimeters and weigh round 1 pound. The smaller Timneh parrot is usually solely 25 centimeters and weighs 175 grams lower than the Congo.
timneh african gray
The 2 parrots present slight variations in shade. Timneh is darkish grey and charcoal, whereas Congo can vary from darkish grey to gentle grey. The Timneh additionally has a pink higher beak and the Congo has a plain black beak.
The tail feathers of the African gray Congo are brilliant crimson. Whereas the Timneh has darkish brown tail feathers.
Character
The 2 forms of African gray parrots are clever and cautious birds. Dr. Irene Pepperberg of the College of Arizona estimated in 1995 that they’ve the intelligence of a 5-year-old little one and the temperament of a 2-year-old little one.
Congos and Timnehs bond with their caregivers, however Congos usually solely love one individual at a time. Whereas the circle of Timnehs usually extends to a number of family members.
Congo African Gray and Timneh are sometimes thought of to be calmer and extra equal in temper than their older mother and father. These unique birds mature sooner, have fewer anxiousness points, and endure much less from the nervousness of the plumage.
The Greys of the Congo and the African Timneh could make unbelievable pets with correct socialization and coaching. A Timneh could also be a better option for a newbie chicken proprietor.
Potential to talk
The Timneh and Congo are usually massive talkers. Because the Timneh mature sooner, they usually begin utilizing easy phrases and phrases on the age of 6 months. Many Congos don’t begin talking till they’re one yr previous.
Most Congos imitate the voice of their interlocutor. Most Timneh, alternatively, have their very own voices. The latter was in comparison with a munchkin from the movie “The Wizard of Oz” or a small little one.
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Congo Gray
Timneh African Gray
The Congo African Gray Parrot is the most important and hottest African Gray parrot species in Africa.
It differs from its cousin, the Timneh African Gray, by a bigger dimension, lighter grey shade, and a crimson tail somewhat than burgundy.
The Congo African Gray Parrot is a species extremely prized for its intelligence, its means to talk, and its sociability. It has been appreciated for 1000’s of years, as a result of already the wealthy Greeks, then the Romans liked these birds so particular that would reproduce the language of males.
Its recognition shouldn’t make us neglect that Gray is a troublesome chicken, which requires plenty of care and a spotlight and which is not going to go well with everybody. The aim of this text is to provide you a chicken’s eye view of this particular chicken that will help you select the place you wish to go, and keep away from the principle pitfalls chances are you’ll encounter. Observe the information.
Life expectancy
The Congo African Gray Parrot lives on common 50 years and may exceed 65 years, so be ready normally to a dedication to life
Intelligence
African Grey parrot is an extremely intelligent bird. Furthermore, probably the most well-known African Grey parrot is Alex, studied for years by the ethologist Irene Pepperberg. Alex understood greater than 1,000 phrases, and particularly mastered a vocabulary of 100 phrases of English whose that means he knew completely:
he understood such ideas as “larger”, “smaller”, “identical”, might rely till ‘to 6, and will distinguish seven colours and 5 shapes!
Congo and Timneh Parrot speech
The Gabonese Greens are glorious for mimicry, and plenty of (however not all) are glorious audio system, with a capability of over 200 phrases.
Even those that don’t repeat the phrases are very adept at repeating family noises just like the telephone or the door, usually ok to confuse their homeowners! Most African Gray Parrots grasp a big assortment of sounds, which they prefer to repeat.
As research have proven with Alex, the African Gray Parrots have a singular means to position their phrases and sounds within the context of the second, somewhat than merely repeating, which reveals their intelligence.
Their intelligence makes the African Gray Parrot a really demanding pet, nevertheless. You have to be ready to spend so much of time with African Gray, offering social contacts and psychological stimulation.
The African Gray Parrots have been described as being emotional as a 2-year-old, and intellectually as a 5-year-old. Which means that they want plenty of consideration and persistence, with a great deal of training to indicate them the suitable behaviors. And, they are often occasionally be an actual problem!
The Greens are typically very cautious, even nervous and suspicious, in new conditions and with new individuals. They’re reputed to be completely devoted to at least one individual, however that is largely because of the truth that usually just one individual in a family spends sufficient time with an African Gray Parrot to weave a very shut bond.
Make an effort to socialize an African Gray Parrot with many individuals, and provides your parrot the possibility to get acquainted with any new individual.
African Gray Parrot might be comfortable to speak with multiple individual if every individual spends sufficient time to achieve the belief and affection of the chicken.
Congo and Timneh Parrot bites
African Gray Parrot has a little bit of a popularity for biting, however that is largely because of socialization points. Like different parrots, they chunk, particularly in the event that they really feel threatened in a technique or one other.
Nonetheless, the arrogance of an African Gray Parrot have to be gained with persistence and respect and pushing the interplay with an African Gray Parrot who doesn’t absolutely belief you might be value a chunk.
In addition they have a superb notion of the temper of individuals round them, and they also have to be approached with a relaxed and relaxed perspective, or the chicken may grow to be stressed or excited.
As well as, a parrot who’s bored or careworn is extra more likely to have behavioral issues – which embrace biting – so make sure that the chicken’s emotional, psychological and bodily wants are met: keep away from issues.
The intelligence of those birds signifies that they will need to have plenty of social interactions with their homeowners and psychological and bodily stimulation.
Choosing up feathers
The Greens have a popularity for feather pullers. Parrots basically, together with The African Gray Parrot, generally resort to feather pulling or to worst types of self-mutilation, for varied bodily and physiological causes, and in addition if their emotional wants will not be met they’re careworn.
It ought to be famous that any chicken that pulls its feathers wants an intensive verify from a veterinarian to rule out a doable bodily trigger. If none might be discovered, then the behavioral causes ought to be explored.
The doable tendency of The African Gray Parrottowards this perspective comes most likely from their intelligence and their want for consideration and stimulation.
In abstract, the African Gray Parrot is a good looking and superb parrot however just isn’t the suitable chicken for everybody.
Potential householders should fastidiously consider their means to decide to assembly the wants of those birds all through their life expectancy and to make sure they perceive one of the best ways to look after these stunning parrots.
Lodge your African Gray Parrot
Dimension of the cage: the larger it’s, the higher. You will want a big cage for these birds. I like to recommend a minimal within the space of 90 cm by 60 cm by 120 cm in top, however a bigger dimension is unquestionably higher with regards to housing parrots.
The spacing of the mesh ought to be 1.9 to 2.5 cm.
A minimum of a part of the cage ought to have horizontal bars to permit the chicken to climb to the edges of the cage.
The cage ought to be positioned in part of the home the place the chicken could have plenty of contact with individuals, however ideally not probably the most frantic of the home.
Preserve the cage away from the home windows, the place the African Gray Parrot would obtain direct daylight (which might overheat them), protected against drafts, and never too near radiators or air-con ducts.
A collection of perches ought to be supplied – diversified in dimension and materials (for instance, pure branches corresponding to manzanita wooden, which is usually out there at pet shops). Gentle and slippery perches shouldn’t be used, nor perches lined with sandpaper.
Get a wide variety of toys – the suitable dimension and after having checked for security (see particularly the elements that may very well be swallowed, the chance of strangulation or entice).
Having a wide variety of toys and spinning them within the cage may also help you present leisure and stimulation to your chicken.
Plan to let your African Gray Parrot spend plenty of time outdoors his cage, on daily basis.
Feed The African Gray
Selection is the important thing right here. Meatball diets ought to type the premise of the weight-reduction plan, however they need to be supplemented with a wide range of contemporary vegetables and fruit in addition to seeds and proteins.
A small quantity of seed combine may also be used to feed it, taking into consideration that whereas seeds have some dietary worth and place within the weight-reduction plan, they’re nonetheless largely greasy and unbalanced and shouldn’t be the principle a part of the weight-reduction plan.
African Gray Parrot is considerably vulnerable to calcium deficiency, so their calcium ranges ought to be checked yearly by a veterinarian.
Calcium dietary supplements shouldn’t be used besides on the recommendation of a veterinarian, however it might be useful to feed it with all kinds of calcium-rich meals corresponding to inexperienced leafy greens (inexperienced cabbage, mustard, spinach …).
Contemporary ingesting water have to be out there always. Meals and water dishes ought to be washed each day.